Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Obama Finds Advice Can Carry a Price

Brzezinski raises hackles in pro-Israel circles

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 12, 2007 11:43 PM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama may get foreign policy credit for traveling with Zbigniew Brzezinski, but having the Carter-era hand to hold won’t help with Israel boosters. The former national security adviser’s in the doghouse after defending the authors of an article that claimed the “Israel Lobby” has outsize influence in the US, Politico’s Ben Smith notes. And Obama’s now parsing his support closely.

Smith writes that Obama has taken a hard line in his support for the Jewish state, but puts himself at risk by appearing with Brzezinski, who this summer defended "The Israel Lobby"—a book Harvard law professor (and Clinton supporter) Alan Dershowitz called "bigoted." One Obama supporter calls the Brzezinski flap " a fabricated controversy for political reasons."

[Images (4)]

[Videos (2)]

Zbigniew Brzezinski, former U.S. national security adviser, attends a regional conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia, Saturday, July 7, 2007. Regional and European political leaders gathered in Dubrovnik to... (Associated Press)

In this April 15, 1985 file picture, President Ronald Reagan meets in the White House Oval Office with conservative leaders of Washington's national defense establishment, which he hopes will help him... (Associated Press)

Former US National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a hearing on the situation in Iraq, 01 February 2007 on Capitol Hill in Washington,... (Getty Images)

Barack Obama, who is outlined his views on the Iraq war in a major speech in Iowa today, may have controversy on his hands from adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski's defense of the book "The Israel Lobby." (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Barack Obama Endorsed by Zbigniew Brzezinski (BarackObamadotcom (YouTube))

The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy (ExactKnowledge (YouTube))

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Most Popular National Politician Today Is ...

Hillary Clinton, as 'buyer's remorse' plagues a third of the country

(NEWSER) - The most popular politician nationwide is the one that got away: Hillary Clinton. Nearly two-thirds of the country sees the secretary of state favorably, and a third are battling what Bloomberg terms “buyer’s remorse” over not electing her president. Just over a year ago, only a quarter of Americans felt that way. “Looking back, I wonder if she would have been a stronger leader, knowing the games and the politics and all that goes on,” says a Florida woman. “I don’t think she would have bent as much.” More»

Like Health Reform? Thank John Edwards

Remember, that was his deal in '08 campaign

(NEWSER) - If there’s one person to thank for the health-reform measure that passed the House yesterday, it’s John Edwards … really. It was Edwards, Chris Good points out, who was on stump talking about health care in 2007, even when it wasn’t a huge issue for voters, and well before Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama—and Edwards had an actual plan well before either of his Democratic primary competitors. More»

Obama Campaign Becomes ... a German Musical

And yes, there's a Sarah Palin character

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama's 2008 campaign is the subject of Hope!, a musical set to premiere Jan. 17 in Frankfurt. The production features musical-theater versions of the major players: Michelle, Hillary—looking quite young—John McCain and even Sarah Palin, who sings a solo surrounded by scantily clad dancers. Writer and composer Randall Hutchins, who is American, tells Der Spiegel he got the idea for the production "right at the start of Obama's electoral campaign. I found the atmosphere exciting and that was my inspiration." More»

Bill Sank Hillary's VP Chances: Plouffe

Clinton was still in contention in June: new memoir

(NEWSER) - The Obama campaign seriously considered Hillary Clinton for vice president, but ultimately the perception that her husband was "too big a complication" combined with bad memories from the primary campaign to sink her chances. Barack Obama “said if his central criterion measured who could be the best VP, she had to be included in that list," writes campaign manager David Plouffe in a new memoir, The Audacity to Win. More»

HBO Plans Film Version of 2008 Election Book

Film will look at events from candidates' perspectives

(NEWSER) - HBO Films has picked up Game Change, a book about the 2008 election, to adapt for the small screen. The book, to be published next year, takes a character-driven look at the campaigns from the perspectives of the candidates and their camps, says Variety. The option continues the network’s recent interest in timely political material, a la last year’s 2000 election saga Recount. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Obama Finds Advice Can Carry a Price